Past Highlights

First Ever Twenty

PbTidal River Pike

Double figure surf bass.

 Tidal River Twenty

First 'big' pike

Arun mullet.

Lured bass 7-13

My original blog was published on the Chelon Labrosus mullet forum which will close on the 1st December. I just hope I've managed to successfully download all my stuff and it's not lost in cyberspace. Anyway, here are a few pics from the past. BTW, If you read this blog, take a little time out to register as a follower and even leave a few remarks if you wish. I'd really like to know who's out there, and that all this one finger typing is not a complete waste of time. Stour Twenty Arun six Hamble six

16/11/12 Scooby's Swansong.

Here's what I posted on WSF

Scooby 2-The Final Episode

  'Today was my final trip out in my trusty Orkney 520 'Scooby 2' before she is delivered to her new owner next week.She's been a cracking little boat. I bought her in October 2010, my first venture into inshore boat fishing, and we have shared over 80 fishing days together, mostly out of Littlehampton.As well as three double figure bass, her decks have seen tope and conger to 40lb plus , some excellent ray,hound, bream and plaice fishing, and a whole heap of fun and learning along the way, as well as one or two slightly 'iffy' moments as is the wont of the 'tyro' boat angler.
However,one specie that has eluded me personally, is decent cod.Last week I took my mate 'Rusty' out on a mission and, in typical fashion, he winkled out two double figure 'greenbacks'-a first for the boat.Despite the fact that I was chuffed to bits for my mate, and for my boat, I needed to get one for myself, and time was running out.
There were very few punters out today. Only a couple of privateers from my marina, and even the charters were a bit thin on the ground though it was reassuring to hear Neil (Spirit Of Arun) on the radio. What a help that guy's been these past couple of years.
Out of the river entrance by 0800 with just enough water over the bar on the huge tide, the selected marks were chosen for their 'heritage' with cod.Whole small cuttle, big cuttle strips and whole squid were the baits , rigged on 6/0 4/0 pennels. First drop down, and before i'd even set up my second rod, up came a pretty spotted ray and within minutes a screaming run resulted in a severed hooklength. I wonder what that was?
A steady procession of the inevitable dogfish throughout the day was punctuated by another 'spottie', a nice thornback and a 5lb bass which took a liking to a whole cuttle until, after the fourth mark move, I was the only boat left out there with only about 30 minutes to go before I'd have to leave to make the tide at the river entrance.There had been a cod reported by one of the boats out today, a nice one by all accounts,so i thought I might still be in with a chance.
I'd been tempted to up anchor and join a mate seen in the distance drifting a nearby reef for bass and, no doubt, baggin' a few and had to sit on my hands to prevent me doing so. I think it was just blind stubborness that made me sit it out.
'Last cast' I told myself out loud. (Why do anglers do that) I even cleared off the spare bait from the baitboard and began to resign myself to the fact that a cod wasn't going to happen along when suddenly, the squid rod gently rattled it's tip.'It's gonna be a ray' I thought as I tightened up but no, it started to bang it's head as Rusty had told me that cod do.....and rays don't!
When It surfaced I shouted out loud and punched the air (what a pillock) Yes it was a cod, and a reasonable one. 11lb she weighed, not a monster but, my first, decent enough and exactly what I wanted on the last cast, on the last trip out in my boat.Chuffed to bits.
The little Orkney seemed to have a bit more 'go' on the run home.Perhaps she was trying to tell me something.'

The cod was subsequently filletted at home,and we had it shallow fried in breadcrumbs with chips and peas for tea-it was after all, a Friday. Even the missus, who by her own admission is not a fish lover, was impressed.It tasted fantastic being only hours from the sea when eaten.

With my mate Alan's help, Scooby 2 was pulled out of the river for the last time today(Saturday 17th) and taken home for a good scrub up.She looks fine and is, this evening, being buffed up by my car valleting mate Alf, at the fire station.The prop will be dressed and painted this week, along with a fresh coat of white antifoul and then she'll be towed up to the Warrior factory where I'll meet up with her new owner, and my new boat.

11/11/12 Scooby Gets Cod....at last

Alas not for me, but for my crew.
Rusty's boat is not too well at the moment and out of the water for repairs, so i offered him a trip out in Scooby in search of those elusive cod-the like of which , excepting  small ones, have not yet graced Scooby's deck.
The areas around marks 28, 23 and north of  2 were chosen mostly for their heritage with 'green backs' and, on dropping the baits, I quickly became 'king of the rays' with a spotted, and two thornbacks to my cuttle strips . Russ meanwhile, entertained himself with doggies.The fishing was slow, especially over the slack, but the weather, and banter made for a pleasent day whilst we patiently waited for something special to arrive.
23 eventually proved to be the killer mark, and i was chuffed to bits to land Scooby's first ever decent cod for Russ-a tidy fish of 12 1/2lb on a half cuttle .
 Shortly afterwards a call on the mobile from Alan saw us up anchor, and head south in 'rescue mode' to assist my mate Ted, whos battery was completely flat leaving his Orkney 520 'dead in the water'.  Having a dual battery system on Scooby, my second battery was pressed into service and 'Wicken Lady' soon burst into life with skipper and crew looking suitably relieved, and journeying home to safety.A valuable lesson learned there.
Meanwhile Russ and me returned to 23 only for Russ to pick up a second slightly bigger cod, and for me to retain my ray 'crown' with a nice double figure undulate before there was enough water over the bar to get back to port.
Returning home in darkness we both agreed that it had been a splendid day's fishing and i was particularly pleased with, not only the cod, but Russ' compliments about my boat-despite the fact that it must have felt very small compared to his own craft.
5.5m tide.

5/11/12 .Another Double Figure Bass.

Mark 29 was the chosen venue and some super cuttle from Fishyrob the bait for this one on what was a relatively small 4.9m tide A 7-00 start to catch the river bar saw me sliding down a frost covered pontoon ramp and having to break the ice on the boat cover.
I was the only marina boat out and, although calm to begin with, the wind did pick up well into double figure mph speeds ,during the day, from the SW which was not really a problem as most of the fishing was with the flood tide, and therefore 'wind with tide'.I was sheltered by the cuddy anyway.
If I'm honest, prime target was cod but, as last year showed, these 'off reef'' ground marks can throw up some good bass at this time of year, and i did have my favourite bass bait on the hooks.Reel clutches therefore were set loose in anticipation of a 'run' from something with a spikey dorsal fin.
A steady procession of dogs was punctuated by this really nice double figure undulate until, later in the afternoon, one of the Avets screamed into action and I knew immediately that i had a good bass on the other end.
10lb 4oz on the scales and 73cm on the tape-a fat and beautifully conditioned fish and my second double of the year.A quick deck pic was taken as I was desperate to get her back safely and after a minute of gripping her by the lip in the flow, she kicked hard and disappeared safely into the depths- i was one very happy bunny.
A second bass run did occur a short time later, which unfortunately, did not result in a netted fish. But at least it meant that there were more about and is indeed food for thought.
The 'BIG THREE' Spirit, Lynander and Jennifer's Pride were reporting bait smashing bream on the reefs and some small bass whilst drifting with lures. To end the day I decided to try a couple of drifts myself on the adjacent reef and this produced small bass almost immediately.
A great day to be out and a rewarding catch- I'm glad i decided to stick it out with the baits and not be tempted by lures on the reefs and, I'm also pleased that by hitting the 'off reef' ground, I avoided the 'bait robbers' dogs excepted.

2/11/12 The Farm Pond

With the rivers out of sorts and completely unsuitable for pike fishing, and the winds too strong to even think about a boat trip it was off ,once again, to my regular winter haunt, the farm pond, in search of roach. When i arrived three black labradors were going through the motions of 'search and retrieve' IN the pond itself.
Once they'd gone and fishing could commence it was clear that, despite the compact dimensions of this piece of water, the roach were willing to oblige and feed well.They also appear to have grown since last year as the average size was very good-perhaps 8oz.
Fishing the 8m pole and with just a pint of maggots, i put together a nice little bag of about fifteen fish, the bites dropping off with the temperature during the afternoon.
I like this sort of fishing.It's skillful,delicate and tremendous fun.